Our chool’s Food Fantasies Company project took place in July. Our goal was to create an Indian restaurant in the school hall and to invite about 100 parents. Twelve Year 6 students did the bulk of the work, but 22 Year 5 children helped out on the day. Pupils sent out questionnaires to find out what kind of food everyone wanted (in previous years it’s been Mexican and Italian).
We are not an ethnically diverse school, which is one reason why we are keen to cross-cultural barriers whenever we can. The children did a business plan, worked out the costs, did the shopping (we had some funding from Safeways), set up the restaurant in the school hall for two nights running, did the table design (they made their own laminated table mats), took bookings from parents, and reserved tables. The cooking was done by a pupil’s aunt, helped by the school cooks.
Apart from the maths, English and other skills involved, children gained a lot in confidence and learned about teamwork and about taking responsibility for their customers.
Androulla Jefferies is headteacher and Stephanie Ruddy is Year 6 class teacher at Kirkby Malzeard Primary School, Near Ripon, North Yorkshire
